Indianapolis ideal for new graduates, renter's site says

A couple is shown walking by St. Elmo Steak House, a well-known restaurant in Downtown Indianapolis. The city’s walkability and variety of restaurants, sporting venues and other attractions make it a popular place for recent college graduates, a new survey says.
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Lured by Midwest affordability, low unemployment and an abundance of millennials, new college graduates may want to consider relocating to Indianapolis this summer, a national apartment online listing site says.

Apartments.com recently named Indianapolis one of the "Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates." The publication has released the list the past seven years.

Apartments.com's list cited the affordability of rent, average salary, the low unemployment rate, age demographics and the singles' scene in cities across the country.

"Conventional wisdom has been to go where the job takes you," said Dick Burke, president of Apartments.com, said in a prepared statement. "However, for today's young professionals who want to have more input into where they start their lives, our list helps identify cities that offer the best overall opportunity for employment and long-term career growth, affordable living and a vibrant culture that caters to young adults."

Under those criteria, new graduates, Apartments.com speculates, may want to start their careers in a city such as Indianapolis. The city, the publication notes, offers an $946 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment.

Bob Schultz, vice president of marketing and communications at Indianapolis Downtown Inc., said the majority of college graduates want to live in an urban core, and Indianapolis has a great mix of restaurants, breweries, cultural attractions and sporting venues within walking distance of homes, apartments and workplaces.

"This certainly validates what we've been hearing from millennials, that they view Downtown as a great place to live and work," Schultz said.